APPENDIX "A" — Orders & Appendices

Document

The National Archives' reference AIR 27/271/3
APPENDIX "A"
154
COPY OF FINDINGS OF COURT OF INQUIRY : NO. 45245V. A/SGT. JAMIESON J.C.
* On 8th March, 1945 at about 21.15 hours 45245V. A/Sgt. Jamieson J.C.
S.A.A.F. was travelling as a pillion passenger on a motor cycle
driven by Sgt. Forrester, 375 G.T. Coy. R.A.S.C.
* At the time A/Sgt. Jamieson was not on duty and intended to visit
the village of Monte Carrotto.
* The motor cycle came into collision with a truck.
* Sgt. Forrester was killed and no witnesses to the accident have been
traced.
* A/Sgt. Jamieson was not to blame for his injuries.
Dated in the field this 24th day day of March, 1945
(Signed) S.E. Masters Capt. President.
(Signed) R.E. Collender Lieut. Member.
COMMANDING OFFICER'S REMARKS.
I concur with the above findings.
(Signed) D. ORD. LT. COL.
COMMANDING, 21 SQUADRON, S.A.A.F.
WING COMMANDER'S REMARKS.
I concur.
(Signed) A.J.M. Mossop COL.
COMMANDING, 3 WING, S.A.A.F.

Transcriber's Notes

Phase 2: Technical Expansion (The "Transcriber's Notes")
Glossary of Terms
* A/Sgt.: Acting Sergeant.
* AIR 27 / 271: The United Kingdom National Archives classification for Air Ministry: Operations Record Books (ORBs). Series 271 specifically catalogs the historical records for 21 Squadron S.A.A.F..
* BA-BH: Reference to the Martin Baltimore aircraft (Marks IV and V) utilized by 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. during the Italian Campaign. While this specific document is a legal finding, the personnel involved were attached to the Baltimore medium bomber wing.
* G.T. Coy.: General Transport Company.
* MC/GP: Medium Capacity / General Purpose bombs; the standard tactical ordnance utilized by 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. during the interdiction missions contemporaneous with this document.
* MET: Meteorological Intelligence; critical for coordinating the air operations that the personnel of 21 Squadron supported.
* R.A.S.C.: Royal Army Service Corps.
* S.A.A.F.: South African Air Force.
Operational Context
Target File 271-3_104 records the findings of a Court of Inquiry regarding a non-operational casualty involving personnel of 21 Squadron S.A.A.F. on March 8th, 1945. During this phase of the Italian Campaign, the Squadron was based in the vicinity of Montecarotto (transcribed as "Monte Carrotto") in the Ancona province.
The strategic focus of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) in March 1945 was Operation Bingo, a theater-wide interdiction campaign designed to achieve total logistical paralysis of German Heeresgruppe C. While the Squadron’s Martin Baltimore aircraft were executing intensive strikes against rail lines at the Brenner Pass and ammunition dumps to prevent Axis reinforcements, the ground echelon maintained the operational readiness of the unit from their base in central Italy.
The death of Sgt. Forrester (R.A.S.C.) and the injuries to A/Sgt. Jamieson occurred while 21 Squadron was operating under 3 Wing S.A.A.F., commanded by Col. A.J.M. Mossop. This document underscores the administrative realities of maintaining a combat squadron in the field; even during periods of high operational intensity (such as the March 14th strikes reported in related files), the command structure remained responsible for legal and safety oversight of personnel during non-duty hours. The concurrence of Lt. Col. D. Ord (Commanding Officer, 21 Squadron) and Col. Mossop confirmed that the incident was accidental and not the result of military misconduct.

105
Phase 1: Verification & Extraction
Identity Check: 3rd MARCH, 1945.